Rose plant--Meizeli variety

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Hybrid Tea rose plant is provided which abundantly and continuously forms attractive semi-double long lasting pink blossoms. The blossoms are Amaranth Pink on the supper surface and light amaranth pink on the under surface. The blossoms possess a very strong fragrance and the petals tend to drop cleanly. The floral buds exhibit a very elegant exhibition-type configuration. The plant exhibits a semi-erect growth habit, forms lettuce green adult wood, forms vigorous vegetation which is very decorative, and is well suited for service as attractive ornamentation in parks and gardens. Additionally, the plant is not particularly affected by cryptogamic diseases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Hybrid Tea rose plant was created by artificialpollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously has beenstudied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was theproduct of the pollination of the Meirisouru variety (nonpatented in theUnited States) by the Meicesar variety (nonpatented in the UnitedStates). The male parent (e.i., the pollen parent) was the First Prizevariety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,774). The parentage of the new varietycan be summarized as follows:

    (Meirisouru×Meicesar)×First Prize.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and 112 smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new variety of Hybrid Tea rose plant of thepresent invention possesses the following combination ofcharacteristics:

(a) forms in abundance on a continuous basis attractive long lastingsemi-double pink blossoms which are Amaranth Pink on the upper surfaceand light Amaranth Pink on the under surface,

(b) forms floral buds which exhibit an elegant exhibition-typeconfiguration,

(c) forms blossoms which are very fragrant,

(d) forms very decorative vigorous vegetation,

(e) exhibits a semi-erect growth habit,

(f) is particularly suited for growing in parks and gardens, and

(g) is not particularly affected by cryptogamic diseases.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry andis particularly well suited for use as attractive ornamentation in thelandscape.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation by anumber of routes, including budding, grafting, cuttage, etc. Asexualpropagation by the above-mentioned methods as performed in France hasshown that the characteristics of the new variety are strictlytransmissible from one generation to another.

The new variety has been named the Meizeli variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plantsof the new variety were two years of age and were observed duringSeptember while budded on Rosa froebelli understock and growing outdoorsat LeCannet-des-Maures, Var, France.

FIG. 1 illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2 illustrates a specimen of a floral bud before the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 3 illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 4 illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thepetals;

FIG. 5 illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening;

FIG. 6 illustrates a specimen of an open flower -- plan view -- obverse;

FIG. 7 illustrates a specimen of an open flower -- plan view -- reverse;

FIG. 8 illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower -- plan view --obverse;

FIG. 9 illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower -- plan view --reverse;

FIG. 10 illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11 illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12 illustrates a specimen of a segment of a flowering stem;

FIG. 13 illustrates a specimen of a segment of a main branch;

FIG. 14 illustrates specimens of leaves with three leaflets -- plan view-- upper surface (top and lower surface (bottom);

FIG. 15 illustrates a specimen of a leaf with seven leaflets -- planview -- upper surface; and

FIG. 16 illustrates a specimen of a leaf with five leaflets -- plan view-- under surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description is based onthe observation of two year old plants made during September whilebudded on Rosa froebelli understock and growing in outdoors atLeCannet-des-Maures, Var, France. The coloration in common termsprecedes reference to the chart.

Class: Hybrid Tea.

Plant:

height.--Approximately 100 to 110 cm. on average

Habit.--Semi-erect.

Branches:

Color.--Young stems: reddish brown. Adult wood: lettuce green,Yellow-Green Group 144A.

Throns.--Size: medium. Quantity: numerous. Color: reddish on young stemsand brownish on mature wood.

Leaves:

Stipules.--Adnate, pectinate, wide and linear.

Petioles.--Upper surface: striped reddish brown on young foliage andmedium green on mature foliage with more or less glandular edges. Undersurface: smooth and medium green.

Leaflets.--Number 3, 5, and 7. Shape: oval to elliptic. Serration:simple and regular. Texture: consistent. General appearance: dense,semi-matte foliage. Color (young foliage): Upper surface: bronze green,Yellow-Green Group 146A. Under surface: light green, Yellow-Green Group146D. Color (adult foliage): Upper surface: medium green, Green Group137A. Under surface: light green, Yellow-Green Group 146D.

Inflorescence:

Number of flowers.--Usually one single bloom per stem.

Peduncle.--Medium green, more or less suffused with reddish coloration.The length is approximately 4.5 cm. on average.

Sepals.--Upper surface: tomentose, greenish in coloration. Undersurface: medium green, and the outer sepals have more or lessappendiculate edges.

Buds.--Shape: oval. Length: approximately 3 cm. on average. Size:medium. Color upon opening: Upper surface: Tyrian Purple, Red-PurpleGroup 57A. Under surface: Rose Bengal, Red-Purple Group 57C.

Flower.--Shape: cup-like and semi-double. Diameter: approximately 12 cm.on average when fully open. Color (when opening begins): Upper surface:light Amaranth Pink, Red-Purple Group 68C. Under surface: light AmaranthPink, Red-Purple Group 68C. Color (when blooming): Upper surface: lightAmaranth Pink, Red-Purple Group 68C. Under surface: light Amaranth Pink,Red-Purple Group 68C. Color (at end of opening): Upper surface: lightAmaranth Pink, Red-Purple Group 68B. Under surface: very light AmaranthPink, Red-Purple Group 68C. Frangrance: strong. Lasting quality: long.Petal number: approximately 20 to 22 on average. Texture: veryconsistent. Petal drop: good. Stamen number: approximately 144 onaverage. Anthers: ochre, normal, located below the stigmas. Filaments:free standing, light fuchsia in coloration, of irregular heights.Pistils: approximately 84 on average. Stigmas: normal, yellowish incoloration. Styles: greenish, tomentose near the base, and sometimesbonded together. Receptacle: medium green, more or less stained withreddish coloration, smooth, in longitudinal section at the dehiscence ofthe anthers it is wide and in the shape of a pitcher.

Development:

Vegetation.--Very vigorous.

Blooming.--Abundant and continuous.

Aptitude to bear fruits.--Poor.

Resistance to frost.--Good.

Resistance to diseases.--Good.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Hybrid Tea rose plantcharacterized by the following combination of characteristics:(a) formsin abundance on a continuous basis attractive long lasting semi-doublepink blossoms which are Amaranth Pink on the upper surface and lightAmaranth Pink on the under surface, (b) forms floral buds which exhibitan elegant exhibition-type configuration, (c) forms blossoms which arevery fragrant, (d) forms very decorative vigorous vegetation, (e)exhibits a semi-erect growth habit, (f) is particularly suited forgrowing in parks and gardens, and (g) is not particularly affected bycryptogamic diseases;substantially as herein shown and described.